Punter's farewell tour heads home

Chris Barrett -Dec 7, 2012

One more goodbye … Ricky Ponting will get another farewell when he is given a lap of honour in Hobart next week. Photo: Getty Images

THE TONK

Richie, Chappelli, Heals, Tubby, Binga and Slats. Get ready to add Punter to that list. Ricky Ponting will become the latest ex-cricketer to join the Channel Nine commentary team, although not as early as this summer. The just-retired Test batsman is keen to pursue a post-playing career in coaching, which Cricket Australia have already made contact about him doing, but says he will likely end up in the commentary box as well. ''I've got a great passion for coaching and a great passion for helping young people out and trying to develop them as people and cricketers as well,'' Ponting told Tasmanian radio on Thursday. ''Down the track there probably will be some Channel Nine commentary that will come up at some stage I think, which will be good fun.'' For now, however, Ponting is playing out the domestic season with Tasmania and Big Bash League team Hobart and said he had not ruled out a last hurrah with his mates at Mowbray Cricket Club in Launceston either.

Clear as crystal

Ponting will be farewelled in style on day one of the Hobart Test next Friday, performing a lap of honour in the lunch break while video highlights of his career are shown on the Blundstone Arena big screen. Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards will then present him with a commemorative crystal decanter. CA is running a half-page ad in the local paper next Thursday to encourage Tasmanians to go and see off their favourite son. There is also likely to be another guard of honour for Ponting, formed by Mowbray members.

Sir Viv fires up

Viv Richards is adamant that runs and wickets from the World Series Cricket era should be counted in players' overall records. ''I'm a little bit pissed off with the people who organise the stats, because that was some of the hardest cricket ever played,'' Richards said at the Lindsay Hassett Club lunch in Melbourne on Thursday. The ICC has not yet been convinced, but Shane Warne is. ''I've publicly said I think it's the best cricket ever played,'' Warne said. ''I think it's a joke that those statistics from all players [involved in WSC] aren't actually in the statistical records.''

D'Costa divided

Batting guru Neil D'Costa could have a foot in both camps at next year's Ashes. Phil Hughes' personal batting coach is also the mentor of England's Nick Compton, the grandson of the great Denis, who made his Test debut in India last month. D'Costa has been instrumental in remodelling Hughes's game, leading to his Australian recall for next week's first Test against Sri Lanka.

Tick of approval

Sydney's capture of Australia Day cricket has been been boosted with the Australia Day Council adopting the January 26 Twenty20 international at ANZ Stadium as one of its major events. The venue pinched the Australia Day game from Adelaide Oval, which has hosted international cricket on the day for the past decade but is undergoing a major redevelopment. A feature on the day will be one of the Ponting Foundation's Biggest Game of Cricket events, where hundreds of fans can play a social game in Cathy Freeman Park before the first ball is bowled at 6.30pm.

Money moustaches

The dirty upper lips of Dave Warner and Matthew Wade were there for all to see during Australia's series against South Africa and at state and grade level there has been an outbreak of 'staches, too. Moises Henriques raised $1900 for the Movember cause, lifting awareness of men's health, while Todd O'Keefe from the Campbelltown-Camden club topped the grade fund-raising list with $4000.

Starc realty

Cricket couple Mitchell Starc and Alyssa Healy are moving in together after buying a townhouse at Breakfast Point. ''Just went in and saw our new place! Looks brilliant, pretty excited to get the keys on Monday!'' Starc tweeted. The only problem is that both are so busy they won't be spending much time there in the immediate future. Starc heads to Hobart next week on Test duties while Healy is also tied up with state and international commitments.

Wonder women

Back on Healy and the Breakers, and if you think the Australian men's squad have a hefty schedule spare a thought for the women. NSW play Tasmania in a 50-over match and then two T20 games at Blacktown from Friday, the start of a frenetic period for their nine Southern Stars reps. Alex Blackwell, Sarah Coyte, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Sharon Millanta, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Leah Poulton and Lisa Sthalekar will all then back up for Australia's Rose Bowl series against New Zealand at the SCG on December 12 and at North Sydney Oval on December 14, 17 and 19 before more preliminary matches against South Australia in Adelaide from December 21-23.